October 23, 2024
Participants and staff from Immanuel Pathways Central Iowa took a fun-filled trip to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.
The day was filled with more than just lions, tigers, and bears.
As a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE®), Immanuel Pathways is dedicated to helping seniors who require nursing home-level care enjoy a fulfilling life at home. The excursion brought smiles and excitement to participants of the PACE® program and helped them connect with nature and each other.
The PACE® program offers seniors a supportive and engaging environment, ensuring they receive the care and therapies they need while living at home. Participants can visit the center daily to see healthcare professionals, enjoy nutritious meals, and engage in stimulating activities like crafts, painting, group fitness classes, and live local entertainment.
Immanuel Pathways’ Recreational Therapy teams organize special outings throughout the year to ensure participants stay engaged and active. Immanuel Pathways Recreational Therapist Julia Pemberton said the outings, such as the zoo trip, are fun for both participants and staff.
“The participants in Immanuel Pathways most likely would not have this opportunity outside of our program to be able to come to the zoo,” Julia said. “We provide transportation, and we have staff members that come along to assist – if they are needed – and to push wheelchairs. We provide lunch and have a little picnic afterward. And so, it is just very rewarding for all the staff that get to come and help and see how much joy this brings to the participants and hear about the stories.”
This year’s visit to the zoo was filled with laughter and excitement as participants explored the various exhibits. Many eagerly anticipated the chance to see their favorite animals up close. PACE® Central Iowa Participant Donna Cornett said she was particularly excited about spending time outdoors and seeing the zoo’s exhibits.
“My favorite part of visiting the Des Moines Zoo is the animals, getting to see them up close,” Donna said. “I love the monkeys. I love the lions and the tigers.”
The trips are more than just fun days out. For many participants, including Donna, they are crucial to maintaining social connections and preventing isolation.
“I’m not able to get out and around very well, so having the opportunity that they come, they pick me up, they take me home, they take me to appointments, I go to the community center. I’m not stuck in my apartment,” Donna said. “I do have family, but there’s a lot of people that don’t have family, so they’re alone. So being able to get out is amazing, and having them generate that ability is just outstanding, and it’s really saved me a lot.”
If you want to learn more about how Immanuel Pathways enhances the quality of life for older adults, visit Immanuel.com/pathways-pace.
